Minutes after the man whose bag he slogged around Canoe Brook Country Club for 36 holes on Thursday pushed in the winning putt, Todd Anderson was exhaling on the back of the North Course's 18th hole. He was staring over at Michael Stamberger walking to the scoring tent to put the official cap on his win at the 112th NJSGA Amateur Championship. He kept repeating one phrase.

"This is an emotional one," Anderson, his caddie, said over and over. "This is an emotional one."

Stamberger has long been considered one of the better amateur players that New Jersey has had to offer over the past 15 years. He had won prestigious titles inside the state's borders and throughout the metropolitan area: A Met Amateur title, a NJSGA Mid-Amateur, two NYC Amateur wins. A resume that most players would love to have, but one that had one glaring void on it — win at his state's amateur.

Until now.

"It's a nice thing to do late in my career," Stamberger said. "Play a few more years and soon you're 50. This one is special. I have a lot of friends here. ... It's pretty cool."

The 41-year old was a picture of relief after surviving the 72-hole week and 36-hole finale Thursday. He admitted he didn't play the last 18 holes of the day well — shooting a 6-over 78 — but it was enough to hold off his 19-year old challenger. Jimmy Dengler of Rumson C.C. finished one stroke behind Stamberger, despite a 2-over 74 in the afternoon portion.

"It's awesome to be under the gun," Dengler said. "To play with Mike and know what you need to do. It's definitely a confidence-builder going forward. To know that I can compete with all of these guys here. The Ryan McCormicks of the world. The Mike Stambergers of the world."

There was a moment during the closing stretch — when the steady drizzle began and the temperatures dropped into a fall-like feel — when it appeared that Dengler would steal the win from Stamberger. A five-shot lead to start the final round had been whittled to just one as the final pairing reached the 16th hole. Stamberger bogeyed the hole to appear to send it tied up heading to the last two holes.

However, Dengler couldn't capitalize, carding a double-bogey.

Even though Dengler came back on the 17th with a birdie, the one-shot advantage remained with Stamberger until the end.

"I never thought I would (win) because the college kids are so good," Stamberger, who lives in Brielle and plays out of Spring Lake G.C. said. "The course played hard. I think some of the guys were tired. Guys like Ryan (McCormick) weren't on their game. If those guys are on their game, they win every time."

That added to the sweetness of Thursday's win. So did doing it with his childhood friend, Anderson, on the bag. It wasn't supposed to be — Stamberger was still unsure whether he would play this week because of work and told his regular caddie, John Dougherty to not wait for him. So when he came by Canoe Brook over the weekend for a practice round and decided he had to play, he called Anderson.

Anderson knows the type of player that Stamberger is and has been over his career. And that there was one thing missing. To be there to help him get there, was why he kept referring to the 36-hole close as an emotional day.

"We grew up playing junior golf together," Anderson said. "I'm so proud of him. This is such a huge win. He played great. He played super. I'm just so happy for him."